AWAKENING THROUGH THE BODY

INTRODUCTION:

body|mind|connection is a conscious method of working with body based on making exercises shown in the movie clips. It incorporates the main idea of reciprocal communication of body-mind and mind-body.
Stay here and try to connect to your body. You don’t need for it any special outfit nor special place. It is enough if you just start moving with us.
Choose the clip which you find the most interesting and follow its instructions.
The choice of the exercises is up to you, your needs and your mood or the needs of your group.

body|mind|connection is an open method. Mental-body exercises can be mixed in a different way (read the instructions below) and can be used both in group and individual context, as a form of autogenic training. Exercises can be treated as an energetic warming up or calming down at the end of training session. They can be treated as an autonomous unit – in this case, the whole practice should take approximately 45 minutes and should be made following the order described at the website. Each exercise should be made during 4-5 minutes – still try always to be flexible and just listen to your body and your emotions. You can choose own favorite music.
If you got so far – stay here with us!

LET’S START TO MOVE

Detailed description of the method:
Our everyday mental processes are not sufficient training for changing the relations between body and mind. Not only our muscles but also our brain and nervous system are becoming more efficient due to systematic exercises. If our thoughts wander aimlessly, they become more skilled in this aimless activity.
Images appearing spontaneously during exercising your imagination may have a significant impact on your whole body and in consequence on your emotional and psychological well-being. Maybe one single picture is just a small part of what is needed to change attitudes, provoke activity or shift of perception of socio-cultural reality that regulates our life.
What our brain needs is just a little hint to start this process of changes – and we don’t even have to be aware of it. The more we develop our senses, the more effective our mental pictures become. We have to work on the precision of pictures created by our senses like the painter works on the subtle shadows of colors of his paintings.

1. CALMNESS

Practice this exercise any time you feel overexcited, anxious or stressed. It is an excellent way to help you recover from turmoil that surrounds you. It helps to calm down your breathing, mental processes and regain the harmony.

You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.

It is a calming down exercise.

2. WOW EFFECT

This exercise helps you to find inner WOW effect which is everything that is exceptional and unique in you by using joke and absurd. Try to make fun of yourself. It really helps, esp. when it comes to distorted image of yourself and low self-esteem. You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is an energizing exercise.

3. DANCE

Find an inner DJ. Feel your favorite song which suddenly makes your body dance without any embarrassment. Dance as if nobody was watching you. Let yourself feel physical freedom and wild expression. Don’t be ashamed. This exercise aims to awake and free physical and emotional joy. It helps when you feel down.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still, approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is an energizing exercise.

4. SHAKE

When you are in rage and feel growing anger, negative energy, and frustration – the best solution will be to get rid of it through physical movement. Let yourself experience shake your body. Let it grow and make it take away all your anger and frustration. Kick it out of your body and in this way also out of your mind.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still, approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is an energizing-calming exercise.

5. BOUNCE

Imagine that you are a king or a queen of the party. Your body bounces up and down and with every movement, you feel more confident. Your body moves with confidence also when you don’t feel it – all you need to do is to allow it. Don’t be ashamed of it. Think that nobody is watching you. Practice this exercise at any time when you lose your confidence or when you feel intimidated by a certain situation.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still, approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is an energizing exercise.

6. THICK AND SOFT

This exercise will help you when you feel emotional anxiety and stress which you can’t get rid of. Let your body feel the maximum tension and then total relief. Thanks to it, you will remove tensions in your body and you will feel relaxed.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still, approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is a relaxing exercise.

7. BODY PERCUSSION

It may happen that you don’t have any energy or strength. In this situation – imagine that your body is a living percussion. Firstly, feel quick movements coming out of your muscles and then start clapping on yourself as if your body was a percussion. Don’t be too gentle. Let your muscles and skin feel this rhythm. Your blood will start circulating better, your breath will get faster.
If you work in a group – you can start clapping at each other’s bodies. Let it be fun. Don’t be afraid of it.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is an energizing exercise.

8. STRENGHT

Gaining strength from the space around is not difficult. Firstly, you will feel calmness in your movement and then you will become stronger, you will feel work of your muscles.
You will feel strong. You are strong and ready for challenges.
Practice this exercise any time when you don’t believe in your own abilities, when you feel that you will not manage and this feeling is deeply present in your mind.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is an energizing-calming exercise.

9. FLYING FEARS

When you’re afraid of something, then what can help you is facing your fears – even metaphorically. In this exercise, we will work on it physically. Firstly, imagine your fears flying around you and then though physical escalation you will transform these fears into something pleasant. Your fears have disappeared. Remember that majority of our fears is illusional.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still, approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is a relaxing exercise.

10. ACCEPTANCE

This exercise will help you to find full acceptance of your body and physicality.
For a moment close your eyes and feel that you observe yourself from outside. Let this sensation develop. Thank your body for all the work that it makes for you every day. Touch your body with respect and acceptance.
You can keep doing this exercise as long as you need it, still approximately 4-5 minutes would be the best. If you want – watch this movie clip several times and follow its instruction.
It is a relaxing exercise.

A choreographer, pedagogue, dance theorist with a doctor’s University degree. Qualified dancer (he gained a diploma acknowledged by the Union of Artists from Polish Scenes and honoured by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage).Graduate of animation of culture and sport at Zielona Gora University. Scholarat Oslo University College.

Animator and researcher of dance culture. The author of monograph –„Dance- a worldof choreographers’ experiences” and academic publications of range dance pedagogicswidely comprehended.Adjunct and lecturer in modern forms of dance at Zielona Gora University, where he cooperates with Akexander Azarkevitch and Pawel Matyasik. Director of scenic movement. Founder, carer andchoreographer of Workroom of Dance Theatre in Zielona Góra.